Charlie Baker on Civil Rights

OpEd: Campaign staff almost all white; others show diversity

Listen to the Massachusetts candidates for governor on the campaign trail and you'll hear calls for inclusion and praise for the state's diversity. Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike speak proudly of their intent to embrace all communities
and aggressively protect civil rights. Yet despite the candidates' campaign rhetoric, their paid staffs do not always reflect the state's cultural tapestry. There are candidates with no black staff members, some without Hispanics on their payroll--at
least one lacks both--and those who have not hired any Asian staff members. Among the large field of candidates, Democrats Martha Coakley and Steve Grossman and independent Evan Falchuk have staffs that best reflect the diversity of the state.
Republican Charlie Baker has a staff that is almost entirely white. Democrats Joe Avellone, Juliette Kayyem, Don Berwick, and independent Jeff McCorm. (Boston Globe)

Supports marriage equality; gay brother is married

Republican gubernatorial hopeful Charlie Baker emphasized what he said are his fiscally conservative, socially moderate stances. Baker said he was pretty much cut from the cloth of former governor William F. Weld. "I'm a pro-choice candidate and
I support marriage equality--my brother is actually gay and married. But I'm a pretty hard-headed guy when it comes to the budget and whether you're getting a bang for your buck," Baker said. (Boston Globe, 7/22/2014)

Running-mate supports existing law on gay marriage

Social conservative activists are threatening to walk away from Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker after his running mate, former state representative Karyn Polito, reversed her position this week, endorsing gay marriage. The Baker
campaign, looking to placate social conservatives, said that Polito considers same sex unions to be accepted law. But the campaign would not make Polito available to be interviewed about her position.

"Karyn supported civil unions at a time when most
Republicans did not,'' said Baker's campaign spokesman. "Like many, including President Obama, Karyn's position has evolved, and she now supports the existing law and will not work to undo the progress achieved over the last decade."